Chapter 3:

Neville and Harry greeted Ron and Hermione before Hermione looked back at Ron.

"So, are you looking forward to your first DADA lesson with Fleur, Ron?" Hermione asked, a grin beginning to take place.

Ron looked at her, surprised at how Hermione already knew who the new teacher was.

"Right, so you still think I like Fleur?" He asked, even though he still had a bit of a crush on her. Hermione smiled.

"Yes." Ron rolled his eyes.

"Nah, I don't, not now anyway." He gazed at Hermione, giving her a strong hint.

"Hey, Hermione." Neville greeted again, cutting Ron and Hermione's conversation.

Hermione set her eyes upon him.

"Hello Neville."

"W-we having Fleur as our DADA teacher this year?" He tried to start a conversation.

Hermione nodded and grinned at Neville.

"You like Fleur too?" She asked. Neville blushed and tried to hide his rabbit teeth.

"No." He scratched his eyebrows nervously.

"I won't be so sure. It's perfectly natural to like her. I've seen how you guys drool over her." Hermione shook her head and quickly Neville agreed. Ron flashed Neville a glance before they all headed towards DADA.

*

Last year, DADA was probably their worst subject, other then Potions, of course. That was because of Professor Onduri. He was thin, pale and many students suspected him of getting himself drunk every night, locked up in one of the classrooms. DADA was meant to be the best subject but Onduri made it extremely boring and his unusual behaviour often made students fear him.

When the class entered the room this year, a lot of gasps were audible and a lot of muttering heard. The room was covered in silver. It was also a bit dark, as the windows were covered by smooth, long silver curtains. A great, elaborately decorated chandelier hanged above them, radiating a faint, orange light. Around the room hung moving posters of dangerous creatures and different phases of the moon. The annoying habit about the creatures in the posters, were that they loved to growl and howl all the time. The rows of desks and chairs were placed at the centre of the room. Harry looked down at the floor and was surprised that it was also silver, with a few glittery stars just clearly seen.

Harry quickly chose a seat at the back of the room, Ron and Hermione quickly followed. Neville was seated next to Harry. As Hermione approached he patted the seat next to him softly.

"Sit here, Hermione." He said, beaming at her. Unable to be rude, she sat quietly down. Ron glared at Neville's ugly rabbit teeth, but soon reminded himself that Hermione once had the same teeth.

All the students were buzzing excitedly about their new teacher- Fleur. The class was still talking loudly when Fleur stepped in. The talking dropped to a deathly silent mode. Draco smirked and coughed loudly. Few heads turned to him. She smiled warmly at her new class.

"Good Morning, clazz." She greeted, trying very hard to hide her accent.

All the boys straightened themselves and shifted in their robes. Even though Ron had told Hermione that he hadn't liked Fleur he couldn't help taking a few glances at Fleur's dazzling dress. Fleur was wearing a long, glittery silver dress, with her silvery blonde hair falling over her shoulders. All the girls, including Hermione, pretended not to notice it. Harry could hear Parvati muttering something about wearing that kind of dress was inappropriate when teaching sixth years.

"Az you all may know zat I had once zaid- said that I waz going to come to 'Ogwarts to teach- improving my English." Fleur began.

Harry could see beads of sweat developing on Neville's forehead and his glassy gaze at Fleur. She caught Neville's eye and smiled. Neville's eyes widened and he clutched onto his seat with white knuckles.

Throughout the lesson Fleur taught the class how to defend themselves against Wobble-cheeks; which were green balls of fluff that can temporarily paralyze anyone who threatens them. Draco Malfoy seemed like the only person to have trouble with the Wobble-cheeks, as he kept throwing insults at it. Even Ron found the fluffy green balls easy to tame.

"Wicked!" He whispered as his Wobble-cheek snored softly on his desk.

Towards the end of the lesson only Hermione, Neville and Draco's Wobble-cheeks weren't tamed. Hermione's kept paralyzing her- making her look like she was moving in slow motion. Neville's kept jumping around on his desk, mocking Neville's slow speed. Draco eventually got so fed up that he started to rip the tufts of soft green fur off it; but in the end even though his Wobble-cheek was all bald, it was tamed and asleep.

The lesson concluded with Fleur locking up all the Wobble-cheeks and saying a few words of comfort to Hermione and Neville.

"A bit odd that Hermione didn't get it tamed, don't you think?" Ron murmured so that she couldn't hear. Harry nodded. They waited outside for Hermione to join them before heading to the Great Hall.

"Hey guys." Hermione said shakily as she joined the group with Neville tugging behind them.

"Hey." Ron and Harry glanced at Hermione's face. Suddenly she burst into tears and clutched her books tighter. Ron breathed out silently and looked at Harry. Draco walked past cursing, with robes scattered with green fur. Ron could be sure Hermione looked up as Malfoy past.

*

The Great Hall was filled with chatters and babbles as they sat down on the Gryffindor table, relieved to fill their stomach after their long and boring lesson.

Harry dug in on his lunch, when Ginny joined them and sat next to him again.

"Hi guys!" Ginny greeted. They all mumbled a 'hi' except Hermione, who was eating between sobs.

"Hey what's wrong, Hermione?" Ginny asked, inching closer to Harry. Hermione shook her head and answered 'nothing', before Draco Malfoy walked past Gryffindor table holding a polished new Dragoness- the newest broomstick. Ron's mouth fell open.

"Where'd you get that?" He asked at once, before shutting his mouth.

"Father gave it to me, Weasley. Surely you would have gotten one from your father?" Draco smirked. Ron swallowed his mouthful of food.

"Quit showing off, Malfoy." Harry defended. Ginny sought for words.

"Yeah!" Was all she could manage. Draco's sharp glance swept over Hermione and he tossed his broom from one gloved hand to the other. Hermione looked up from her teary face and caught Malfoy's eye. Quickly, he looked away and swallowed nervously.

"Malfoy leave us alone." Hermione told him quietly. Surprisingly, he nodded and walked away. Ron lifted one eyebrow.

"Bit strange, since when did he listen to you?"

"Be thankful that he's gone now." Harry muttered. Ron took a bite out of his sandwich and nodded. Wiping her mouth with a napkin, Ginny cleared her throat.

"Since you're the new Quidditch captain, Harry," She started, nudging Harry and grinning.

"When are you going to start training?" She finished, licking her teeth. Harry shivered.

"Hopefully this afternoon if I can get the bookings for the fields before Malfoy." Harry was Gryffindor's Quidditch captain this year, and Draco was Slytherin's. Since Oliver Woods left Ron had been Gryffindor's keeper. Dennis, Colin Creevey and Seamus Finnigan were the new chasers and the two Beaters were two students from the seventh year. Surprisingly, Ron was very good playing as Keeper.

Ron headed off with Harry to book the fields to practice this afternoon leaving Ginny and Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table. Ginny watched Harry's retreating back and sighed before facing back to her friend. Hermione seemed fine now, her flow of tears now just a track down her face.

"You okay, Hermione?" Ginny asked. Hermione nodded.

"Alright then, I'd better head back to get my things. I left them in Transfiguration. Bye, Hermione!" With that and a small nod from Hermione, Ginny hopped off her seat and took off.

*

"I will have more at whatever the cost, Cornelius." Dumbledore demanded. Fudge drained his cup of Butterbeer and licked his lips.

"You have to understand, Albus, that because of their intensive training, it-"

"I know, Cornelius. I am aware of the time and cost to train the Aurors. But in our position," Dumbledore blinked behind his half-moon spectacles, "We have no other choice."

"No doubt what we have right now is enough, Albus?" Fudge questioned, his eyebrows raised. Albus fixed a gaze at him.

"Enough? There will be no enough when defeating Voldemort." Cornelius held up both hands when 'Voldemort' was mentioned.

"I'll see what I can do, Albus. But I have my doubts about just how many wizards are willing to give up their lives to work as an Auror. For that, we must give them time to consider." Fudge scratched his right cheek. Dumbledore nodded and clutched his fingers.

"But we must prepare ourselves as much as we can, Cornelius. You can never guess which corner darkness will lurk." Dumbledore breathed out slowly.

"I expect the students are most alert of our situation?" Fudge asked, fiddling with his empty cup. Dumbledore blinked.

"No. I did not want to alarm them. Besides, Voldemort has not a clue right now. Best we make it stay that way. Younger and less experienced students would tell anything to anybody." Albus lifted his cup of Butterbeer and sipped.

"Well then, Albus. I best be off. If you detect anything is not going well, you know where to find me." Standing up along with Dumbledore, the two wizards shook hands. Albus smiled.

"You have been of much help to us all, Cornelius." Albus told him. Fudge smiled warmly.       

"I am the Minister. Well then, good evening to you, Albus."

"You too Cornelius, I have absolute faith in you. Good evening."  Fudge stepped out and with a few steps, vanished.

*

Snape prowled around the room, watching every student wiggle their quills. He stopped in front of Harry's table.

"Potter, Floo powder is made that way, not Fleur powder. Funny the ways celebrities think, is it not?" Harry could feel his face grow red. Draco turned around on his chair and smirked, along with Crabbe and Goyle; who were grinning stupidly.

"Is it not, Potter?" Snape asked again. Harry didn't think Snape would expect an answer, but you never knew Snape.

"Yes Professor Snape."

Everyone continued their note taking and Hermione's eyes kept flickering towards Draco's slicked blonde hair. Neville was again comfortably seated next to Hermione. Ron twirled his quill around.

"Never mind him, Harry. He's just being a pain in the arse." Harry grinned while writing.

"Five points from Gryffindor. Don't think I can't hear you, Weasley. What do you think ears are for?" Professor Snape spat. The lesson droned on and on. They continued taking down notes and finally the lecture was over. The three friends, Harry, Ron and Hermione all gathered their books and headed for Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.

"How could Snape hear that? Impossible! I could swear he wasn't listening!" Ron continued to absorb Harry in that subject as Hermione edged her way to Malfoy. Sensing someone behind him, Draco turned around to see Hermione. He grimaced at her.

"What do you want?" Malfoy looked at Hermione. Totally unprepared, Hermione gawked.

"Nothing- I was just heading to the next lesson." She smiled awkwardly and rapidly hid herself amongst the flow of students. Malfoy raised an eyebrow and continued to walk.

When they got to Hagrid's hut they found the gigantic Hagrid hunched over a moving beast. Pansy Parkinson gave a small gasp.

"Oh hey class! C'mere, I've gotta show yer all this! C'mon, don't be afraid! They won't hurt a fly!" Hagrid led them all to where he was hunched over. What they saw made them gag. It was what looked like a gigantic slug with six, hairy claws. It had a yellow-white set of pointy teeth and two eyes on either side of its slimy head. Ron heard Hermione gag. Hagrid clipped both his large hands on his waist.

"These, are wha' they call Yurdles. Spanish Yurdles. They ain't dangerous, them. All yer' have ter' learn abou' them is that they like a bit o' light. So, give em' a bit o' light and you'll see you have full control o' them. C'mon, give em' a try. Each student gets one." Once each student had found themselves the smallest one possible, they took out their wands.

"Lumos!" Dean Thomas shouted. At once a beam of light shot from the end of his wand. The Yurdle gave a small yelp that was ten times louder then a dog's and then nodded once. Dean looked at Hagrid, who was watching the other students.

"Um, Hagrid?" He stumbled out. Hagrid looked around and spotted Dean.

"Ah, there yer' have it! Great! Everyone c'mere! Look at wha' Mr. Thomas has done!" Some of the students inched up to look at Dean's creature before heading back to their own, which were now running away. For a large body, the Yurdle ran unpredictably swiftly.

"Lumos!" Draco bellowed fiercely at his own. The Yurdle uncertainly nodded once and stood waiting for Malfoy's command. Draco watched Hagrid's back, which was bending over Lavender Brown's Yurdle. Smirking, he jerked his head in Hagrid's way.

"Attack him." At once the creature slid itself across the blades of grass and made its way across to Hagrid, baring its teeth. Soon he turned around and spotted the Yurdle.

"OOOOYYYYYYY!" Hagrid roared, waving both his large hands at the Yurdle. Draco grinned madly and watched as Hagrid desperately tried to bluff it away. All the students backed to Hagrid's hut and watched. Hagrid held up a hand above the Yurdle. Its slimy tail curled up and made itself rigid, ready to whip. Hagrid was sweating now.

"Now c'mon, clam down!" He continued to raise his hand above the Yurdle and bring it down slowly to pat its head. But it was very unsuccessful. It continued to snap at Hagrid.

"Who told yer' ter' do this?" He demanded angrily, his forehead full of sweat. Hermione stepped forward.

"Incendio!" Hermione yelled, pointing her wand at the Yurdle. It withered in the scorching flames and within seconds lie on the ground, puffing. All the indocile Yurdles had escaped by now and Draco stood, fighting down a laugh. Hagrid wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his clothes.

"Alrigh'! Which one o' yers' did this?" He roared angrily.

"It was Malfoy!" Parvati screeched at once. Draco jolted his head at Parvati, giving her a cold glare.

"Liar." He turned to face Hagrid, his blue-grey eyes looking at Hagrid's sweaty forehead.

"I swear I didn't do anything. Why would I even touch that piece of sh- thing?" Malfoy looked disgustedly at the Yurdles. Hagrid frowned.

"Yer' know damn well you don't have ter' be in contact with em' to make em' do something!" Hagrid growled. Malfoy straightened up.

"You don't have proof I did it." He said simply. It was true. No one had proof. Hagrid nodded heatedly, knowing very well Malfoy did it. For the rest of the lesson most of the students tried to find the Yurdles which ran away.

That afternoon, the Gryffindor Quidditch Team headed down to the Quidditch fields to practice. Harry and the team had a short prep talk before heading out to the fresh fields. Harry smiled as a cool breeze brushed his face.

"Alright, let's practice."

*

"Use her." The hooded figure croaked.

"Yes, Master. I will."

"I want to know everything."

"Yes, Master."

"Is that all you can say?"

"Sorry, Master."

"Get your arse out of here."

"Yes, Master."

*

 It was Saturday, meaning no lessons. The rain outside had only gotten worse; Hermione was in the common room pouring over books and revising notes. Ron, Harry and Ginny were all in the common room just chatting and helping Ginny with her History homework.

"Nah, Ginny. You won't need to write that," Ron told her, stuffing a Pumpkin Pasty into his mouth. Harry concentrated on the question.

"I dunno." He said, reaching for a Pumpkin Pasty himself. Ginny glanced from Ron to Harry, unsure.

"Where was he born? I remember the teacher telling us something about him, but I can't remember," Ginny pondered, her face twisted in concentration. Hermione looked up from her books.

"I couldn't help overhearing you people talking about where he was born. He was born in Minsk, in 1823. I can be absolutely sure I read it in History of the Famous." Her head buried itself behind the stack of books again. Ron nodded slowly.

"Thanks." He said. Ginny copied down and thanked her too, before flipping through another book. Hermione stood up and stretched.

"Hey guys, I'm going down to the library, okay?" she informed them.

"Hmm? What for? Don't you have enough books?" Harry asked. Hermione looked around cautiously.

"Sshh! I'm going down… t-to get a book on Wobble-cheeks." She said, embarrassed.

Harry grinned.

"Wobble-cheeks? Even Neville could tame them!" Harry fought down laughter.

"Shut up!" She whispered forcefully before she waved a goodbye and headed to the library.

By the time she got there, she was soaking wet. Quickly she muttered a spell and her clothes rinsed themselves. She went in and sat in a quiet corner, flicking through every book. There weren't many people in the library except a few people giggling in another corner of the library. A few moments later the squeak of the door and a tall figure stormed in.

"Wobble…wiggle…wattle, Wizard…Web…" Hermione muttered. She felt an icy hand grip her shoulder and she jumped, remembering it was a library. She looked around, and spotted Malfoy.

"Malfoy!" Her voice came out a loud whisper. Draco looked around, embarrassed to see a few first years looking his way. He quickly removed his hand from Hermione's shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, trying to sound tough. Malfoy looked at the book she was clutching. It had a clear heading: Taming the Wobble-cheek. Hermione, just recovering from the shock, finally realized that her book still lay open.

"Suppose I asked you the same question." Draco smirked and looked down at her book again. She snapped it shut and replaced it before standing up to face him.

"I'll keep your secret if you keep mine. Alright?" Hermione nodded reluctantly. Draco now looked uneasy.

"I came down here so, I c-can find you." He started, making no eye contact with her. Hermione felt her heart leap and uncontrollably smiled.

"Why?" She asked. Draco swallowed and he felt like he had a lump in his throat. At last his clear blue-grey eyes looked into Hermione's soft brown eyes.

"I like you." His voice almost broke and the words echoed through his mind over and over. I like you? It sounded like what a one year old would say to his grandmother. Hermione felt her skin grow prickly.

"Oh." Was all she managed to choke out. She sat back down and looked at the ground. Draco lowered himself too and sat opposite her.

"So…what are you doing here?" He desperately tried to start another conversation. Hermione smiled timidly.

"I-I'm learning to tame a Wobble-cheek." She smiled and shook her head.

"I know, I know, I'm too into homework and books. But-" She shrugged "-It's something I enjoy." She looked up at him.

"Right." Draco never knew how someone could enjoy books and homework.

"How-how do you find doing these thing fascinating?" He asked. Hermione shrugged again.

"To tell you the truth, I don't really know. I think reading can bring you to places you can't possibly go, you know what I mean?" She said, talking to him as if talking to Harry or Ron. He thought about it. It was true enough. He nodded in agreement.

"So, what do you think Dumbledore's up to this year?" He asked, his piercing blue-grey eyes looking at her.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. Draco shrugged.

"Well, the old- Dumbledore has done something every year, right? I'm just curious of what he's got in the bag this year." He shrugged again.

Author's Note: Hmm…. More action now? We hope so…. A bit of awkward Draco/Hermione here, but for the wrong reasons… Keep in mind that Draco does NOT like Hermione. :(

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